Cotton press



June16, 1931. J. J. WALLACE 1,810,064

COTTON PRESS Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l m E n C W m @x m i Z i E z n /m a n a 4 g m J l M m p 0 1!!! \W I m T llll llll June 16, 1931.

J. J. WALLACE 1,810,064

COTTON PRESS Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wiry c1 Mam Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEFFREY JOHN WALLACE, OF AMITE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GULLETT GIN COM- PANY, OF AMITE, LOUISIANA, A CORPORATION OF LOUISIANA COTTON PRESS Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to improvements in connection with a cotton press; and more particularly to a locking and releasing means for such presses.

It is highly desirable that after the cotton has been ginned and fed into the press box and tramped and a bale formed in the top portion of the box, that the four doors that go to make up the upper part of the box be opened simultaneously. Since the bale s compressed under tremendous pressure, if the doors are not opened simultaneously, a lopsided or uneven bale will result.

The principal object is to provide means for locking and simultaneously releasing all four corners of the cotton press box.

Another object is to utilize the pressure of the cotton after the same has been compressed to aid in the release of the sides of the cotton press box.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the entire press box in position;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the box with the cover removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the box shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detailed elevation showing the locking mechanism;

Figure 5 is a top plan of the detail shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the sliding plate Figure 7 is a perspective of the channel irons;

Figure 8 is a detailed elevation showing the rail and casting; and

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

Numeral 10 designates a press box having side doors 11 and 12 and end doors 13 and 14. Along side doors 11 and 12 are rails 15 and 16, respectively, adjacent the top of said doors. Secured to the ends of rail 15 are extended arms 17 and 20; and to rail 16, arms 18 1929. Serial No. 376,172.

and 19. At the end of each extended arm are formed recesses, 21, 22, 23 and 24, respectively.

Secured to the end doors 13 and 14 are channel irons 26 and 25, respectively. Mounted in the channel iron are rollers 27 and 28, and in the channel iron 26 rollers 29 and 30; the rollers 27 and 30 are mounted in slots 31 which are at right angles to the face of the end doors 13 and 14, and rollers 28 and 29 are mounted in slots 32 at an angle to the face of the end doors 13 and 14.

lVithin each of the channel irons 25 and 26 is mounted a sliding plate 33, held in place by retaining clips 43. Each of the sliding plates 33 has a Wedge face 34 which contacts with the periphery of the roller 29 at the end 13, and with the periphery of the roller 28 at the end 14 when the box is in locked position. The opposite ends of sliding plate 33 has an inclined face 35 leading to a plane face shoulder 35 which contacts with roller 30 at end 13 and roller 27 at end 14 when the box is in locked position. Brackets 36 and 37 extend from rail 15 at ends 14 and 13, respectively, to receive a shaft 38, the shaft 38 having cams 39 secured thereto at the ends 13 and 14 which engage sliding plates 33 at their respective ends.

On the end of shaft 38 is an operating handle 40 for revolving the shaft 38 to throw the cam 39 into and out of engagement with the sliding plates 33. Cast on the bottom of each arm 17, 18, 19 and 20 are retaining arms 41, which have projections 42.

As actually used, the end doors 13 and 14 are set in place and the side door 11 raised up into position adjacent the doors 13 and 14. The door 12 is next ralsed in position, completing the box. The operating handle 40 will then be operated in a counter-clockwise position, revolving the shaft 38, which in turn throws the earns 39 against the ends of the sliding plates 33 in the channel irons 25 and 26.

Since the side doors 11 and 12 carry rails 16 and 17 to which are secured extending arms 18, 19, 17 and 20, respectively, the arms 18 and 19 will overlap the channel irons 26 and 25, respectively, and at the same time, the

recesses 22 and 23 in the arms 18 and 19 will extend opposite the rollers 28 and 29.

Ch the opposite side 12, the arms 17 and 20, with the recesses 21 and 24, respectively, will extend opposite the rollers 27 and 30, respectively.

Upon the sliding plates 33 being pushed to the ri ht by the cams 39, the rollers 27, 28, 29 and 30, will be forced into the recesses 21, 23 and 24 in the extended arms 17, 18, 19 and 20, by the wedge faces 31-, in the case of rollers and 29, and the plane face pro jection in the case of rollers 27 and 30, thus lockmg the sides of the box together.

g i nod cotton now fed into the press box 19 from the top, the same in other ty e, and when a sufficient amount of cotton has been tramped in the press box, the press is revolved to bring the box over the power and the bale is packed from the bottom of the box upward, forming the bale in the top of the box.

lVhen the cotton in the box has been compressed to the required density, the power is shut oil, and it is now desi able to open the sides of the box to permit the bagging and ties to be applied to the bale.

It is necessary that these sides be opened simultaneously. This I accomplish by revolving an operating handle 40 in a clockwise direction, which throws the cams 39 out of engagement with the sliding plate The rollers 28 and 29 are set at an angle to the end doors 13 and 14. The rollers 28 and 29 are seated in recesses 22 and 23, and the wedge face 34 of the sliding plates 33 are contacting with these rollers in such a manner that the edges of the slots 32 are angularly disposed to the wedge face 34. Upon the operating handle 40 being turned in a counterclockwise direction, the cams will be thrown out of engagement with the sliding plates 33. The retaining arms 41 extend over the adjacent side and serve to hold the same in place until the extended arms 17 18 and 19 and 20 are no longer in engagement with their respective rollers, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Since the cotton is compressed the sides of the box are under tremendous pressure, and there will be a tendency to force the sides of the box apart. This is impossible so long as the cams 39 are holding the sliding plates 33 in position. However, upon the operating handle 40 throwing the cams 39 out of contact with the sliding plates 33. the pressure of the cotton will cause the side 11 to expand outwardly, which it can do due to the fact that the roller slots in which the rollers 28 and 29 are mounted are set at an angle to the wedge face 34 in the slots 32, and since extending arms 18 and 19 will be forced in the same direction as the side 11, they will have a tendency to force the rollers 28 and 29 inwardly in their respective slots 32, which in turn will force the sliding plate 33 to the left. The rollers 28 and 29 will be turned in a counterclockwise direction.

The retaining arm 41 is of such length that it will hold the adjacent side in closed position until the extended arms 18 and 19 have cleared their respective rollers, 28 and 29. As the sliding plates 33 are moved to the left, the shoulder 35 'will be forced from behind the rollers 27 and 30, which in turn, allows the extended arms 17 and 20 to pass over their respective rollers.

These rollers are set in slots 31 at right. angles to the face of the end doors 13 and 14 in contrast to the rollers 28 and 29. The retaining arm 41, on the extended arms 17 and 20, serves to retain the sides in closed position until the extended arms have passed over their respective rollers.

The pressure of the cotton against the sides of the box causes extended arms 17 and 20 to pass over their respective rollers, and result in the sides simultaneously opening.

Although I have described the unlocking operation as a series of steps for the sake of clearness, in reality the operation will be practically simultaneous, since the pressure is exerted equally on all sides of the box.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a press box for cotton having collapsible sides, means for retaining said sides in assembled position, supporting members secured to opposite sides of said box, a plate and rollers, slidably mounted in each of said supporting members, said plate having an inclined plane on one end to engage one of said rollers and a straight plane surface 011 the opposite end to engage another of said rollers.

2. In a press box having collapsible sides, means for retaining said sides in assembled position and including channel irons secured to opposite sides, each of said channel irons having its flanges provided at one end with a pair of slots inclined to the central body part of said channel irons and with slots at the other end at right angles to said part, a roller slidably and rotatably mounted in the pair of inclined slots, with its axis parallel to said part, a second roller slidably and rotatably mounted in the other pair of slots and with its axis also parallel to said part, a plate slidable along said body part and between the flanges of said channel irons and having inclined portions engageable with said rollers to force the opposite sides of said box toward each other.

3. In a press box having collapsible sides, means for retaining said sides in assembled position, and including channel irons seen red to opposite sides, each of said channel irons having its flanges provided at one end with a pair of slots inclined to the central body part of said channel irons and with slots at the other end at right angles to said part, a roller slidably and rotatably mounted in the pair of inclined slots with its axis parallel to said part, a second roller slidably and rotatably mounted in the other pair of slots and with its axis also parallel to said part, a plate slidable along said body part and between the flanges of said channel irons and having inclined portions engageable with said rollers to force the opposite sides of said box toward each other, and means for sliding said plates into engagement with said rollers.

4. In a press box having collapsible sides, means for retaining said sides in assembled position, supporting members secured to opposite sides of said box, a plate and rollers slidably mounted in each of said supporting members, each plate having an inclined flange at one end thereof to engage one of said rollers and having a straight plane surface on the opposite end to engage another of said rollers, each of said members being provided at one end with a pair of slots arranged at an angle to said inclined plane and with a pair of slots at the other end arranged at right angles to said plane surface, the roller engaging the inclined plane being slidably and rotatably mounted in the first named slot and the roller engaging the said surface being slidably and rotatably mounted in the second named slot, and means for sliding said plates in wedging action against said rollers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JEFFREY JOHN WALLACE. 

